Sweeping changes to the UK pensions system - including raising the retirement age to 68 and reinstating the earnings link to pensions - have been set out by the Government.
Work and Pensions Secretary John Hutton hailed the Pensions Bill as "probably the most radical and far-reaching" shake up to the pension system since the 1940s.
But despite striving for consensus over much of the package, the legislation received criticism for not going far enough to help today's pensioners. And the Conservative Party claimed elements of the proposed legislation would disadvantage millions of middle income workers.
Key parts of the Bill include provisions to see state retirement age increase gradually to 68 by 2046.
Ministers said the move was crucial to ensure fairness between generations, while at the same time securing the long-term financial stability and sustainability of the pension system.
Moves to tackle the 'gender gap' - in which women tend to receive lower payouts under the current system - were also unveiled in the Bill.
At present men have to work for 44 years and women 39 years to build a full basic state pension, this will now change to make everyone eligible after 30 years in employment.
According to the Government, the number of women eligible for a full state pension will go up from just 30% today to 90% by 2025, as a result of the reforms.
The Bill also introduced provisions for a flat-rate state second pension (S2P).
The move is likely to benefit low earners but disadvantage higher earners, who will still be paying the same level of national insurance contributions but for less return.
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